TABELAND Regional Council mayor Tom Gilmore summed up the occasion when he said: “Queensland is 150 years old and that’s why we are here in Herberton, the oldest town on the Tablelands, to celebrate the region’s wonderful and colourful history.”
More than 500 people packed Herberton’s main street last month for dinner under the stars entertained by a cavalcade of “ghosts” – local people enacting scenes from Herberton’s past
The night started with travellers on the Q150 steam train being bussed from Mareeba to the Herberton Historic Village where they were welcomed by Councillor Shaaron Linwood with tea and damper.
An original miner’s hut on the museum site belonged to tin miner Jack Drury, whose ghost (alias Les Wyatt), made an appearance for the guests.
The main street of town was closed off to allow dinner to be served while other ghosts told their stories from a mist-shrouded stage.
Highlight of the night was the performance by Florence the Dunny-cart Man (played by Frank Sims) and Port Wine Kate (played convincingly by Shaaron Linwood).
Celebrations continued into the weekend with fence painting and novelty events such as broom throwing and billy-boiling competitions, followed by the Tin Miners dance on Saturday night.
*More photos in this week’s North Queensland Register, out Thursday.
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